Police officer on the mend after being stabbed by sex offender

The police officer stabbed by a suspected sex offender on Australia Day is showing signs of improvement in hospital.

Detective Sergeant John Breda is in a serious but stable condition in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at St Vincent’s Hospital just days after being attacked by Nick Newman at the Maroubra Junction Hotel on January 26.

The Daily Telegraph reports Newman brought the knife to his own throat and that witnesses heard someone shouting "shoot" in Mandarin before officers fired.

Nick Newman was shot dead after stabbing a senior police officer. ()Detective Sergeant John Breda is in a serious but stable condition. ()